Benefit to cost of vaccination against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in pig herds under Belgian market conditions from 1996 to 2000

The present study investigated the economic benefits and costs of vaccination against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mh) in pig herds under market conditions present from 1996 through 2000 in Belgium. The performance results (daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, mortality rate, medication costs, carcass quality) used for the economic analyses were obtained from a multisite field study that was conducted in 14 Belgian pig herds with a low infection pressure of Mh and practising all-in/all-out production. In these herds, following improvements in performance were obtained through vaccination: daily weight gain + 22 g/day, feed conversion ratio - 0.07, mortality rate - 0.23%, medication costs - 0.45 euro/pig. No changes in carcass quality following vaccination were observed. Partial budgeting analysis showed that the average additional net return to labour (NRL) during the 5 years was + 0.72 euro/pig, corresponding with an increase in NRL of 4.1%. The additional NRL through Mh vaccination ranged from - 0.28 euro/pig in 1998 (NRL - 2.2%) to + 1.30 euro/pig in 2000 (NRL + 3.5%). The results demonstrated that Mh vaccination was economically attractive, except in periods with extremely bad market conditions. In addition to information of production benefits resulting from Mh vaccination, data of market conditions are necessary for precisely quantifying the financial benefit of Mh vaccination in a specific herd. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.